It takes a lot to make a crowd scream, yell, and laugh in a theater nowadays. It’s almost like there is an air of jadedness in the crowd before a hyped-up movie. I normally go into a movie with low expectations because, if I expect to be phenomenally entertained, I may become one of those individuals who feels letdown. However, I have been anxiously awaiting the release of Cheap Thrills, and couldn’t help but feel worried that this movie would be something drastically different than what I was expecting. And, although it was not what I prepared myself for, I found myself giddy to be wrong.
E.L Katz started his journey into the film industry as a horror/movie journalist and, in his first attempt at directing a film, segues wonderfully behind the camera. The story has been told quite a few times. Just not this bloody good. Craig (Pat Healy) is down on his luck. He’s just been fired and, with a pending eviction on his apartment, has no idea how to tell his wife that he won’t be able to take care of her and their baby. While drowning his sorrows at the local watering hole, Craig runs into an old friend from high school named Vince (the unrecognizable Ethan Embry). After catching up, they are then approached by Colin (David Koechner) who is accompanied by his timid, beautiful wife Violet (Sara Paxton). Colin offers Vince and Craig a round of shots and then asks if they would like to play a game. The game? Let’s call it Truth or Dare…without the Truth. For each act, Colin offers cash to whoever performs the deed. After a few random acts of violence, they all head to Colin’s place (Craig begrudgingly agrees) where the games continue and the stakes rise sharply.
Cheap Thrills delivers on so many aspects of what makes a great film. Not only did David Chirchirillo and Trent Haaga write an amazingly sharp script, but the cast really did a marvelous job as an ensemble. From Koechner’s black comedic timing to Paxton’s eccentric portrayal of Violet; it was refreshing to see these four individuals come together and really hit it out of the theater.
Rating: This isn’t Citizen Kane, but it doesn’t have to be because Cheap Thrills is just that: a disturbing ride for cheap thrills. (8/10)
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